Apparatus for dispensing sheet material



June 30, 1959 c. FlSHEL. ET AL APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 2, 1955 l 22 INVENTOR5 B- AF m Wm w 5 5 2 Fs 0 5 w ww m4 NC.5 i E D E w 2 A56 L H mm PB United States Patent APPARATUS FOR DISPENSHQG SHEET MATERIAL Clarence Fishel and Robert C. Weiskopf, Shaker Heights, and Richard S. Weiskopf, University Heights, Ohio Application February 2, 1955, Serial No. 485,774

Claims. (Cl. 242-555) In view of the continually expanding use of paper in substitution for cotton toweling in wash rooms and the like, the problem of a simple and economical method for dispensing this material has become increasingly important. This problem becomes particularly acute where instead of a relatively thick sheet of paper, it is desired to use the newer types of absorbent cellulosic sheet which are quite thin and accordingly difficult to handle, but at the same time have been found highly efficient for use in cleaning and dusting operations as well as ordinary wash room use.

Irrespective of whether the sheet material is of such relatively thin and more fragile character compared with ordinary paper sheet designed for the indicated use, the most convenient and least expensive form in which to provide the material is in the form of a roll. Accordingly, one principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for withdrawing from a roll any selected length of such a sheet and then severing the same from the body of material with a minimum of effort and the assurance of a clean cut at the point of severance, in contra distinction to a torn and crumpled edge. A further object is to present the sheet in conveniently accessible manner, whereby it may be grasped by one hand in order to withdraw and sever such desired length from the roll. Still a further object is to provide an apparatus in which when a roll has been consumed a replacement roll may be easily inserted, ready for use.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying our present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view elevation of one portion of the apparatus as viewed from the right in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of such portion, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

In the form thus illustrated, the apparatus will be seen to comprise a main frame 1 in which is rotatably supported a roller 2 that is adapted in turn to receive and support a roll R of paper or like sheet material. As shown, said frame is in the form of a rectangular bracket that is adapted to have its end opposite that in which the roll R is thus supported attached to a wall or like support. However, it will be understood that said main frame may be supported in any other manner, e.g. upon legs (not shown), constituting thereof a stand, either stationary or movable. In order to facilitate replacement of the paper roll R on its supporting roller 2, the sides of frame 1 are formed with notches 3 adapted to receive and form bearings for the spindle ends 4 with which the roller is provided. Vertically slidably secured to the respective sides of main frame 1 and slightly to the rear of the aforesaid roller 2, are two standards in the form of bars 5, such bars being of such length that the upper ends thereof will normally extend above the paper roll R when the latter is of maximum diameter, as will be the case when it is initially placed in the apparatus. Any suitable means, such as channel guides 6, may be provided on the frame for thus reciprocably attaching said bars 5 thereto. Freely rotatably mounted between the latter adjacent their upper ends is a roller 7 which as a result of the disposition of the previously described parts of the apparatus will normally rest in contact with the,

surface of paper roll R, the line of such contact preferably lying slightly to the rear of a vertical diametral line drawn through the roll, i.e. slightly to the rear of the upper surface thereof.

In addition to the roller 7 thus carried by the bars 5, a transversely extending frame 10 is carried by the upper ends thereof. Said bars taken together may be considered a second frame, vertically reciprocable on main frame 1, and such last-mentioned frame 10 as constituting in effect a horizonal extension on said second- 12 provided in order to securely retain the extension in adjusted horizontal position.

Extending transversely of the horizontal extension 10, adjacent the outer end thereof, is a bar or rod 13, one principal purpose of which will be presently described. However, such rod 13 also serves as an axis for two forwardly extending arms 14, the outer ends of which are connected by a bar 15. As shown, said arms lie closely adjacent the inner faces of the side members of the extension frame It) and serve swingably to support bar 15 closely adjacent the end member 16 which connects the outer ends of said side members and serves to support a downwardly directed serrated blade 17. The latter is preferably attached to the outer face of said end member 16 as by means of set screws 18 which pass through vertical slots in the blade whereby its vertical position may be correspondingly adjusted.

As shown, the swingable frame comprised of arms 14' and cross member 15 is stiffened by a second transverse member 19 located at the rear of said member 15. Also there is provided at suitable points on the side members 10 of the horizontally extending frame a pair of inwardly directed stops 20 that serve to limit the upper swinging movement of said first-mentioned frame, and another pair of stops 21 that similarly limit downward swinging movement of the same. In such last position thereof (see Fig. 4) it will be seen that the transverse member 15 is normally supported so as to lie below the serrated edge of the blade 17. Finally, a transverse bar 22 is supported by means of upwardly bent sides 23 from the horizontally extending frame 10, such bar 22 lying slightly below the side members of said frame and to the rear of its outer end which carries the serrated blade 17.

The operation of the machine may be best explained by reference to Fig. 1. As there shown, the roll R is so placed in the apparataus as to turn in a clockwise direction when the sheet S is drawn off from the upper side of the roll. In other words, the sheet is withdrawn in the direction in which the extension frame 10 projects from the second vertically reciprocable frame comprised of the standards 5, the roller 7 carried by the latter being located so as to rest on the roll R at approximately the point or line where the sheet S leaves such roll. The pressure of the roller, due to the weight of the extension frame mounted thereabove, will be sufiicient to prevent roll R from overrunning, without, however, imposing too great a brake thereon.

The sheet S is first carried over the bar or rod 13 in the forward portion of the extension frame and then drawn downwardly between the forward end of the frame which carries the serrated blade and the depending bar 22. By grasping the free end of the sheet, a length thereof suificient for the intended use is pulled forwardly beyond the end of the extension frame but out of contact with the serrated blade, and thereupon, by an upward and lateral movement, is drawn against such blade. The effect of this operation will be to sever the sheet neatly along the line of its engagement with the blade, whereupon the weight of the swing of the supported bar 15, which will have been lifted in the severing operation just described, will suffice to press the attached end of the sheet clear of the blade, so that it will drop down and hang over the bar 22, ready to be grasped by the user for a further withdrawal and severing operation It will be understood that our improved dispensing apparatus it not limited to use with a sheet of any particu lar kind of material and that the materials hereinbefore named are merely illustrative. Obviously, the apparatus may be used with any material that is capable of being severed in the manner and by the means described.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a main frame adapted to receive and rotatably support a roll of sheet material, a second frame freely vertically reciprocable on said main frame, a roller carried by said second frame adapted to rest on such roll and thereby brake rotation thereof, a horizontal extension on said second frame adapted to support a section of such sheet as Withdrawn from such roll, and a sheet severing device carried by said extension, said device being adjustable towards and from said reciprocable frame.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 characterized further in that said sheet severing device comprises a downwardly directed serrated blade adjacent the outer end of said extension Wherewith such sheet may be brought into contact, and a depressible member disposed to restv upon the unsevered portion of such sheet adjacent 4 said blade when such sheet is brought into contact with the latter.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a main frame adapted to receive and rotatably support a roll of sheet material, a second frame freely vertically reciprocable on said main frame, a roller carried by said second frame adapted to rest on such roll and thereby brake rotation thereof, a horizontal extension on said second frame adapted to support a section of such sheet as withdrawn from such roll, and a sheet severing device carried by said extension, the latter t0- gether with said device being adjustable towards and from said reciprocable frame.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a main frame adapted to receive and rotatably support a roll of sheet material, a second frame freely vertically reciprocable on said main frame, a roller carried by said second frame adapted to rest on such roll and thereby brake rotation thereof, a horizontal extension on said second frame adapted to support a sectionof such sheet as withdrawn from such roll, said extension being adjustable transversely of said second frame, and a sheet severing device carried by said extension.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a horizontally extending frame adapted to receive and support a section of a sheet as withdrawn from a supply roll, a generally vertical support for said hori-- zontally extending frame to which the latter is connected in fixed angular relation, said frame being adjustable transversely of said generally vertical support, and a sheet severing device at the outer end of said frame, said device comprising a downwardly directed, serrated blade, such sheet being thus withdrawable therebeneath, and a bar mounted on said frame for swinging movement.

across said blade and normally resting below the serrated edge of the latter, said bar being disposed to overlie the unsevered portion of the sheet adjacent the blade when the sheet is brought into contact with the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

